by Hector Malot
CHAPTER XXV
MEDDLING RELATIVES
This advice, given with every kindness, did not tend to lessen Perrine'sanxiety. She was dreading Madame Bretoneux's visit on the morrow.
Her governess had not exaggerated the situation. The two mothers werestruggling and scheming in every possible way, each to have her sonalone inherit one day or another the great works of Maraucourt and thefortune which it was rumored would be more than a hundred millionfrancs.
The one, Mme. Stanislaus Paindavoine, was the wife of M. Vulfran'seldest brother, a big linen merchant. Her husband had not been able togive her the position in society which she believed to be hers, and nowshe hoped that, through her son inheriting his uncle's great fortune,she would at last be able to take the place in the Parisian world whichshe knew she could grace.
The other, Madame Bretoneux was M. Vulfran's married sister who hadmarried a Boulogne merchant, who in turn had been a cement and coalmerchant, insurance agent and maritime agent, but with all his tradeshad never acquired riches. She wanted her brother's wealth as much forlove of the money as to get it away from her sister-in-law, whom shehated.
While their brother and his only son had lived on good terms, they hadhad to content themselves with borrowing all they could from him inloans which they never intended to pay back; but the day when Edmond hadbeen packed off to India, ostensibly to buy jute but in reality as apunishment for being too extravagant and getting into debt, the twowomen had schemed to take advantage of the situation. On each side theyhad made every preparation so that each could have her son alone, at anymoment, take the place of the exile.
In spite of all their endeavors the uncle had never consented to let theboys live with him at the chateau. There was room enough for them alland he was sad and lonely, but he had made a firm stand against havingthem with him in his home.
"I don't want any quarrels or jealousy around me," he had always repliedto the suggestions made.
He had then given Theodore the house he had lived in before he built thechateau and another to Casimir that had belonged to the late head of thecounting house whom Mombleux had replaced.
So their surprise and indignation had been intense when a stranger, apoor girl, almost a child, had been installed in the chateau where theythemselves had only been admitted as guests.
What did it mean?
Who was this little girl?
What had they to fear from her?
Madame Bretoneux had put these questions to her son but his replies hadnot satisfied her. She decided to find out for herself, hence her visit.
Very uneasy when she arrived, it was not long before she felt quite atease again so well did Perrine play the part that mademoiselle hadadvised her.
Although M. Vulfran had no wish to have his nephews living with him hewas very hospitable and cordial to their parents when they came to visithim. On these occasions the beautiful mansion put on its most festiveappearance; fires were lighted everywhere; the servants put on theirbest liveries; the best carriages and horses were brought from thestables, and in the evening the villagers could see the great chateaulighted up from ground floor to roof.
The victoria, with the coachman and footman, had met Mme. Bretoneux atthe railway station. Upon her getting out of the carriage Bastien hadbeen on hand to show her to the apartment which was also reserved forher on the first floor.
M. Vulfran never made any change in his habits when his relations cameto Maraucourt. He saw them at meal times, spent the evenings with them,but no more of his time did he give them. With him business came beforeeverything; his nephew, the son of whichever one happened to be visitingthere, came to luncheon and dinner and remained the evening as late ashe wished, but that was all.
M. Vulfran spent his hours at the office just the same and Perrine wasalways with him, so Madame Bretoneux was not able to follow up herinvestigations on the "little tramp" as she had wished.
She had questioned Bastien and the maids; she had made a call on MotherFrancoise and had questioned her carefully, also Aunt Zenobie andRosalie, and she had obtained all the information that they could giveher; that is, all they knew from the moment of her arrival in thevillage until she went to live in the great house as a companion to themillionaire. All this, it seemed, was due exclusively to her knowledgeof English.
She found it a difficult matter, however, to talk to Perrine alone, whonever left M. Vulfran's side unless it was to go to her own room. MadameBretoneux was in a fever of anxiety to see what was in the girl anddiscover some reason for her sudden success.
At table Perrine said absolutely nothing. In the morning she went offwith M. Vulfran; after she had finished luncheon she went at once to herown room. When they returned from the tour of the factories she went atonce to her lessons with her governess; in the evening, upon leaving thetable, she went up again to her own room. Madame Bretoneux could not getthe girl alone to talk with her. Finally, on the eve of her departure,she decided to go to Perrine's own room. Perrine, who thought that shehad got rid of her, was sleeping peacefully.
A few knocks on the door awoke her. She sat up in bed and listened.Another knock.
She got up and went to the door.
"Who is there?" she asked, without opening it.
"Open the door, it is I ... Madame Bretoneux," said a voice.
Perrine turned the lock. Madame Bretoneux slipped into the room whilePerrine turned on the light.
"Get into bed again," said Madame Bretoneux, "we can talk just as well."
She took a chair and sat at the foot of the bed so that she was fullface with Perrine.
"I want to talk with you about my brother," she began. "You have takenWilliam's place and I want to tell you a few things that you should do;for William, in spite of his faults, was very careful of his master'shealth. You seem a nice little girl and very willing, and I am sure ifyou wish you could do as much as William. I assure you that we shallappreciate it."
At the first words Perrine was reassured; if it was only of M. Vulfran'shealth that she wanted to speak she had nothing to fear.
"I think you are a very intelligent girl," said Mme. Bretoneux with aflattering, ingratiating smile.
At these words and the look which accompanied them Perrine's suspicionswere aroused at once.
"Thank you," she said, exaggerating her simple child-like smile, "all Iask is to give as good service as William."
"Ah, I was sure we could count on you," said Mme. Bretoneux.
"You have only to say what you wish, Madame," said little Perrine,looking up at the intruder with her big innocent eyes.
"First of all you must be very attentive about his health; you mustwatch him carefully and see that he does not take cold. A cold might befateful; he would have pulmonary congestion and that would aggravate hisbronchitis. Do you know if they could cure him of his bronchial troublethey could operate upon him and give him back his sight? Think whathappiness that would be for all of us."
"I also would be happy," replied Perrine.
"Those words prove that you are grateful for what he has done for you,but, then, you are not of the family."
Perrine assumed her most innocent air.
"Yes, but that does not prevent me from being attached to M. Vulfran,"she said, "believe me, I am."
"Of course," answered Mme. Bretoneux, "and you can prove your devotionby giving him the care which I am telling you to give him. My brothermust not only be protected from catching cold, but he must be guardedagainst sudden emotions which might, in his state of health, kill him.He is trying to find our dear Edmond, his only son. He is makinginquiries in India...."
She paused, but Perrine made no reply.
"I am told," she went on, "that my brother gets you to translate theletters and cables that he receives from India. Well, it is mostimportant that if there be bad news that my son should be informedfirst. Then he will send me a telegram, and as it is not far from hereto Boulogne I will come at once to comfort my poor brother. The sympathyof a sis
ter is deeper than that of a sister-in-law, you understand."
"Certainly, Madame, I understand; at least I think so," said Perrine.
"Then we can count on you?"
Perrine hesitated for a moment, but as she was forced to give a replyshe said:
"I shall do all that I can for M. Vulfran."
"Yes, and what you do for him will be for us," continued Mme. Bretoneux,"the same as what you do for us will be for him. And I am going to showyou that I am not ungrateful. What would you say if I gave you a verynice dress?"
Perrine did not want to say anything, but as she had to make some replyto the question she put it into a smile.
"A very beautiful dress to wear in the evening," said Mme. Bretoneux.
"But I am in mourning," answered Perrine.
"But being in black does not prevent you from wearing a lovely dress.You are not dressed well enough to dine at my brother's table. You arevery badly dressed--dressed up like a clever little dog."
Perrine replied that she knew she was not well dressed but she wassomewhat humiliated to be compared with a clever little dog, and theway the comparison was made was an evident intention to lower her.
"I took what I could find at Mme. Lachaise's shop," she said inself-defense.
"It was all right for Mme. Lachaise to dress you when you were a littlefactory girl, but now, that it pleases my brother to have you sit at thetable with him, we do not wish to blush for you. You must not mind usmaking fun of you, but you have no idea how you amused us in thatdreadful waist you have been wearing...."
Mme. Bretoneux smiled as though she could still see Perrine in thehideous waist.
"But there," she said brightly, "all that can be remedied; you are abeautiful girl, there is no denying that, and I shall see that you havea dinner dress to set off your beauty and a smart little tailoredcostume to wear in the carriage, and when you see yourself in it youwill remember who gave it you. I expect your underwear is no better thanyour waist. Let me see it...."
Thereupon, with an air of authority, she opened first one drawer, thenanother, then shut them again disdainfully with a shrug of hershoulders.
"I thought so," she said, "it is dreadful; not good enough for you."
Perrine felt suffocated; she could not speak.
"It's lucky," continued Mme. Bretoneux, "that I came here, for I intendto look after you."
Perrine wanted to refuse everything and tell this woman that she didnot wish her to take care of her, but remembered the part she had toplay. After all, Mme. Bretoneux's intentions were most generous; it washer words, her manner, that seemed so hard.
"I'll tell my brother," she continued, "that he must order from adressmaker at Amiens, whose address I will give him, the dinner dressand the tailor suit which is absolutely necessary, and in addition somegood underwear. In fact, a whole outfit. Trust in me and you shall havesome pretty things, and I hope that they'll remind you of me all thetime. Now don't forget what I have told you."
